12/12/2003

The UK Film Council (FC) announced today a new ‘diversity strategy’ to improve the representation of minority groups in films, film-making and audiences in the UK.

In fact, minority ethnic groups represent 9% of the UK population, 12.8% of cinemagoers and only 1.6% of workers in the film and video industry. Women represent more than 45% of the population and there are over 8.6m disabled people in the UK. By tackling this issue and improving diversity, the lead agency for film in the UK said that this strategy, once implemented, would make sound creative but also business sense for the whole film sector.

Among the proposals are the setting up of a new code of practice with goals on employment, training, casting, content and portrayal for underrepresented groups within the industry; schemes to open up access to opportunities in the film industry (including bursaries), and looking at ways in which fiscal policy and new co-production treaties could be used to help make the film workforce more inclusive.

Commenting on the UK FC’s new initiative, the UK Culture Minister, Estelle Morris, said: “Art holds up a mirror to reality. That’s why this strategy is so important, because the film industry should fully reflect society of our culture, both in front of and behind the camera. It must be open to every section of society. I look to the wider industry to follow the UK FC’s lead”.